Kayak-whale encounter of a lifetime (4-pic gallery)

A humpback whale surfaced next to Karen Hatch last week as she paddled her kayak out of Moss Landing and into Monterey Bay

A humpback whale surfaced next to Karen Hatch last week as she paddled her kayak out of Moss Landing and into Monterey Bay

Photo: Giancarlo Thomae

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Humpback whale leaps in a pirouette amid a full breach in Monterey Bay

Humpback whale leaps in a pirouette amid a full breach in Monterey Bay

Photo: Giancarlo Thomae

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A humpback whale spyhops across surface of Monterey Bay -- 15 were spotted on Saturday west of Moss Landing

A humpback whale spyhops across surface of Monterey Bay -- 15 were spotted on Saturday west of Moss Landing

Photo: Giancarlo Thomae

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Huge leatherback turtle peers ahead out in Monterey Bay

Huge leatherback turtle peers ahead out in Monterey Bay

Photo: Giancarlo Thomae

Kayak-whale encounter of a lifetime (4-pic gallery)

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In a pulse-pounding moment last week, a 40-foot, 80,000-pound humpback whale surfaced high in the air aside a stunned ocean kayaker in Monterey Bay, took a look and then swam on its way with another whale.

In a photo of a lifetime, fieldscout and contributing photographer Giancarlo Thomae was alongside and got the shot, an amazing tack-sharp photograph with perfect composition.

The kayaker was Karen Hatch of Kayak Connection out of Moss Landing, a popular spot to rent kayaks to view sea otters in adjacent Elkhorn Slough and the mouth of the harbor. I’ve worked with Karen on many stories.

The giant whale could have flipped her into the air like Moby Dick tossing Ahab, but instead made what seemed a friendly, close-up visit, emerged on the surface to say hello, and then swam off. Meanwhile, Karen said her heart was doing flip-flops.

On Saturday, Thomae reported 15 humpbacks — the most of the year — cavorting in the same area.

Tom Stienstra is The San Francisco Chronicle’s outdoors writer. He will appear at 7 p.m. Thursday at REI-Berkeley to present a free show, “Sierra Crossing,” the story and photos of the epic trek you can do in a week. E-mail: tstienstra@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @StienstraTom